Just purchased this guitar and am curious to know the history. Also, based on the serial number, I know it's the 55th instrument made, but I wonder what number guitar this is? 10, 20, 30? In other words, of the 54 instruments made before this one, how many were guitars? It's also got a unique headstock I haven't seen on another Alembic. Beautiful instrument.

Welcome to the club, Eris. We've been watching the auction on that guitar - a stunning beauty. 74-53 had a similar headstock. You can see it in this link. Also, IIRC, David Bowie's guitarist, Carlos Alomar, had a similar guitar that came up for auction a couple of years ago.

Not a '74, but here's a link to 72-10, the earliest guitar currently accounted for within the club (it proudly sits in my studio). For other early Alembics, try cruising through the "Series 1 basses and guitars" section of "Showcase".

I've done a lot of research and I can only find "internet" evidence of 4 of these style guitars. Mine, Carlos Alomar's, the one linked a few posts above and the one in this link. Can anyone else add to the search?

As far as condition, I have to say that mine is the hands down winner. Carlos' has a ton of play wear, the one linked above was unfortunately modded to fit a synth, and the one in this link has had a headstock repair.

Mine is still in the shop, but she is basically aces. Could possibly be in need of a re-fret, but won't know for sure until she's re-strung and adjusted.

I don't believe the Bromptons article referenced two posts up is accurate. I doubt Marmaduke's guitar was built in 1971, (which would have made it the first Alembic, before Jack Cassidy's), and IIRC, there were no Series II instruments made in 1972.

I'm also thinking about Marmaduke's guitar. It has PF-5 circuit with extra SW (mellow SW ?) that I think. So the guitar was made at 1973. May be some update was done. (humcancel PU, bridge are changed.)

Next guitar (series 2 1972) is looks like newer because refurbish work. I can touch only the narrower humcancel PU and mustache tail. The narrower humcancel PU was featured at 1974 to early 1976 (around SN 300). I think the guitar was made at 1975 with series 2 upgraded lately.

Well bust my buttons. Didn’t think that I’d ever see this beauty again. As paexplorer requested in his original post, here’s a wee bit of odd history regarding 74-55.

I owned this guitar for a few years in the early 1980’s. At the time I was building and repairing instruments in New York City, and one of my customers, Scott Hamilton, a fine young jazz player needed to sell it as he had just arranged to purchase a new guitar from Jimmy D’Aquisto. Though my main focus was on building flat top steel string guitars, I’d have been extremely foolish to ignore the electric guitar market if I wanted to stay in business, so took the opportunity to purchase 74-55, and for a few years I had the pleasure of playing and examining her, and using what I learned when I began building solid body instruments. In fact, the first bass that I made had woodwork that was directly inspired by this guitar, but I used Bartolini electronics in lieu of Alembic Series 1 parts.

While I was confident in asking for good money for my building and repair services, I’ve never felt that my playing was ever worth paying to hear. Thusly, when I’d gleaned what lessons that 74-55 had to offer me, I sold her to another, more worthy musician. At that time, she was the only Alembic that I’d ever seen with 6 tuners on a side, and I never thought that I’d see one with an identical phallus shaped headstock. Then, a few months after I sold 74-55, Carlos Alomar called me to inquire as to wether I could refret his Alembic guitar, and repair his blue box. I was more than a bit surprised to open his case and see a virtual twin to the lovely instrument that I’d previously owned and appreciated so well. If I get the time, perhaps I’ll go rooting around and see if I can’t uncover my copy of his receipt from about 30 years ago, and try and find that guitars’ serial number.

So, I'm not finding the file for this guitar. I did find the shipping record to LD Heater and so we know it's birthday is slightly before May 17, 1974.

I will certainly keep a lookout for any more details and let you know what I find.

Until then, I'm going to guess you've got a Walnut top (but it's hard to tell from these images, so that's a GUESS), I think the neck is Walnut and either Birch or Maple. The core looks very light, but it's probably not Maple, maybe Birch. You can email me big pictures and I'll try to make some more guesses if you like.

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